Automatic weighing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vllil.

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Filed June '18', 1923 ZIM v April 15 1924.

April 15 1924. 1,490,817

c. F. GARRATT AUTOMATI C WEIGHI NG MACHINE Filed June 18, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IJLUQILJOZ Cj.' Qazza gig/s,

April 15. 1924.-v 1,490,817

.l C. F. GARRATT AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1923 i5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig In Ue ILYTOI- C.F.G,a1za, E

Patented Apr. l5, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES FREDERICK `GARRATT, 0F NUNEATON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINIE.y

Application led June 1,8,

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREDERICK GAnRA'r'r, a British subject, residing at Manor Grange, Manor Park Road, Nuneaton, in the county of IVarwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Automatic Weighing Machines, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to automatic weighing machines of the type in which the supply of powdered, granular or like material from a hopper to the weighing pan is controlled by a pair of slide valves or sluices, ordinarily termed the main and dribble sluices. The object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple and robust construction which is relatively inexpensive and well adapted for the general requirements of such users as wholesale grocers.

In the three accompanying sheets of eX- planatory drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention. y Figure 2 is a sectional plan, and Figure 3 a rear view with the driving motor omitted.

Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the retaining and releasing mechanisms vin conjunction with the delivery door of the .weigh pan.

In the construction of an automatic machine as illustrated for weighing tea, sugar,

rice and like materials, a horizontal table a supported on side plates or brackets, has mounted on its upper side a supply hopper b, and below the table is arranged a weigh beam c carrying at its outer end ay weigh pand. The latter is fitted at its lower end with a hinged and l counterweighted discharge door c which is normally held closed by a catch lever f pivoted on the pan and arranged to engage a projection g on the door. On the underside of the table is arranged the main sluice h, kwhich can slide horizontally between guides i on the underside of the table across the aperture y' at the lower end of the supply hopper. The main sluice is formed with a small aperture k through which can flow the dribble feed, and this is controlled by the dribble sluice l which can slide between guides ym on the underside ofy thek main sluice. The feed aperture in the table is adjustable by a pair of oppositely movable plates n actuated by i screws o, the sizeof the aperture being 1923. Serial N0. 646,209.

varied by manipulation vof the screws to suit different requirements. f

For actuating the Sluices a vertical shaft 79 is mounted beneath the table, and at the upper end of the shaft is arranged an arm g adapted to impart the required movements to the vmain sluice. Preferably a pair of projections r are provided on the main sluice for engagment by the arm. In one half of each revolution of the shaft, the arm engages one of the projections and imparts an opening movement to the main sluice. At the end of this movement the arm disengages the said projection and after a suitable interval of idle movement engages the other projection. With the continuation of the movement of the arm the sluice is closed.- With the closing of the main sluice the motion of the shaft is automatically stopped, and the sluice is not re-opened until the weigh pan has been discharged. Subsequently the arm leaves the second projection and passes into engagement with the first projection, and the cycle of operations is then repeated.

As already stated, the dribble sluice is carried von the main sluice, and in the opening movement of themain sluice the dribble sluice is carried with it. IVhen the main sluice approaches the end oi its opening movement an abutment s on the dribble sluice passes over a hinged catch t which during the return movement of the main sluice engages the abutment and by holding the dribble sluice causes the dribble feed kaperture to be opened and to remain open after the main feed aperture has been closed. The size of the dribble aperture can be varied by adjusting the position of the abutment s relatively to the dribble sluice. This can be effected by a screw a. The release of the dribble sluice is eilected by the plunger o of an electromagnet w which is under the control of the weigh beam. When released the closing movement of the dribble sluice is eiectedby springs (Figure 2) attached to the main sluice. The control of the circuit through the electromagnet is effected by fixed and movable contacts y, the movable contacts being carried on the weigh beam. Instead of arranging the contacts as shown, they may be situated on the outside of the machine, preferably enclosed, and actuation of the movable contact may be effected through a lateral projection either from 'the beam or from the said contact.

`For automaticallyv connect-ing the above mentioned vertical sli-att With the source ot mot-ion any suitable clutch is used. Pretorably l employv the following driving and clutch mechanism. Beneath the shaft j) and coaxialhY with it is arranged a Worm Wheel 2 driven through a Worin trom an electric motor 3 or other convenient source ot motion, this Worm Wheel being secured to a vertical shaft et. lreeferabl)7 the shaft p is hollow, and the shalt 4t is continued upwards through the shaft y) tor operating; the stirrer mechanism hereinafter described. Above the ivorm Wheel is secured on the shaft il; a member 5 forming one element ot the clutch.` the said element having te iii provided on its upper tace.. The complementary clutch elementl 6 secured to the shatt n is provided ivith a laterallv projecting` pivoted catch 7 which at its inner end is adantd ed to engage the clutch teeth ot the element 5 and at its outer end is adapted to be en gaged bv one end or a counter-Weighted lever S secured to a rocking shaft 9 mounted transverselv between the sides ot the machine, l.Vhcn the shaft p approaches the end ot each of its rotaiarv movements the outer end ot the catch comes into contact; with the inclined or curved portion 10 ot the lever 8 and in the succeedingY movement the inner end of the catch is raised out ot en ifreinent with the clutch member 5. The e f 11 oli' the lever S serves as a stop Vtor enr ging the outer end ot the catch and arresting the rotation of the shaft p.

The rocking cross shaft 9 also has attached to it a tappet lever 1Q ivhich receives motion :trom a projection 13 the underside ot the dribble sluice. This tappet is connected bv a link 14 with a lever 153 on the outer end ot which is hinged a spring` controlled strilrer 16 for acting on a projection 17 secured to the lever f on the pan. The strilrer is so arranged that it is rio-id with the lever 15 during4 the downward movenient. but during' the upward n'iovement it can yield and pass idlv b v the said projeo tion 17.

To maintain a unitorni 'flow ot material `trom the hopper to theviveireh pan. the lovfer end ot the hopper is provided vrith an?! convenient rotaryY stirrer 18 driven through bevel or other Wheels 19 from the upper end ot the vertical shaft 4. Preterablva eonvenient change speed mechanism is provided between the shatt 4 and the stirrers to enable the speed ot rotation to be varied to suit different requirements. The mechanism shovvn comprises a counter shaft Q0 With Wheels 21 which can be engaged individuall;7 with vvheels Q9 on the stirrer shaft Motion is transmitted trom the counter shattto the stirrer sha tt through Wheels Q4. Also an additional stirrer 9.5 mav be provided in the hopper, this being driven from until the main suice has been reclosed at the end ot one revolution tbe vf V'tical shaft. The variable apcrtu'e 'ljieneath the hopper is so adjusted that during the opening and closing interval ot the main sluice approximately the required amount or' inaterial is delivered to the weigh pan. lthen the main sluice reaches the end ot its clos ing' movement the clutch catch T is \-lisen gagged trom the clutch. element 5 and the motion ot the shaft is arrested. iciiibsequcntlv material flows through the, dribble feed aperture. the dribble sluice being held open by the catch. As soon the proper Weight of material has been delivered to the Weigh pan the iveifrh beam tips. closes the circuit ot the electromagnct and causes the dribble sluice to be released. During the closing; movement' of the dribl'ile sluice under the action ot the springs. the projection 13 on the sluice strikes the tappet 12. This has the effect ot relea einer through the lever 15 the catch lever j' which holds up the Weigh pan door. and also ot withdrawing the above mentioned lever S from the clutch catch The latter then autmnaticalli7 t. moves under the action oit a spring into engagement vfith the clutch element 5 and causes the vertical. shaft to be again in motion. During the inovenient ot the arm on the upper end ot the vertical shaft o into engagement With the next projection on the main sluice bv which the latter opened. the Weigh pau discharges its contents. the door returns to its closed position and is lie-engaged b v its catch. Meanwhile the lever which normallyv engages the clutch catch is held out of action. Subsequently7 the main sluice is again opened. the proiection on the dribble sluice releases the tappet on the cross shaft and permits the clutch engaging lever to move into its active position. The lever 15 also returns and in this movement the striker 16 passes idl;7 over the projection 17 on the lever f. The above described cycle. of operations is then repeated.

To prevent tiltingr of the beam when the main bulk ot material is delivered to the pan through the main sluice a projection 26 is arranged on the underside of the main sluice and adapted to co-operate with an abutment surface Q7 on the rear of the beam. lVhen the sluice is closed. as it is when the dribble sluice is in operation, the projection lll) ters Patent is 1. In automatic weighing machines of the type specified, the combination with a. supply hopper, a Weigh beam, a weigh pan on the beam, and a discharge door at the lower side ot the pan, of horizontally slidable main and dribble sluices, a vertical main shaft located beneath the sluices.I means on the Vupper end of the shaft for` imparting opening and closing movements from the shaft to the main sluice, an automatic clutch for engaging and disengaging the said vertical shaft to and from a continuously rotating source of motion, and means actuated from the dribble sluice for controlling the clutch and the discharge door of the weigh pan, substantially as described.

2. In automatic Weighing machines of the type specified, the combination with axsupply hopper, a weigh beam, a weigh pan on the beam, and a discharge door at the lower side of the pan, of a horizontally movable main sluice, a horizontally movable dribble sluice carried on the main sluice, a vertical shaft, an arm on the said shaft for imparting positive movements in both directions to the main sluice, a spring for imparting closing movements to the dribble sluice. an automatic clutch for driving the shaft, and opening mechanism for the door of the weigh pan, both clutch and door mechanism being under the control of the dribble sluice` substantially as described.

3. In automatic weighing machines as claimed in claim 2, a catch forholding the dribble sluice in the open position, and an electromagnet under the control of the 'weigh beam for releasing the catch, substantially as described.

4. In automatic weighing machines having the feature claimed in claim 3, an adjustable abutment on the dribble sluice for engagement by the catch, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic weighing machine as claimed in claims l and 2, an automatic clutch comprising` a continuously rotating notched driving element and a pivoted catch lever arranged on the driven element and adapted to engage the driving element, and a lever movable by the dribble sluice for disengaging and releasing the clutch catch lever substantially as described.

6. In automatic weighing machines as claimed in claim l, the combination comprising a locking lever for securing the delivery door of the weigh pan, a lever actuated by the dribble sluice, and a hinged striker on the end of the sluice operated lever for actuating the door locking lever, substantially as described.

7. In automatic weighing machines as claimed in claim l, the combination comprising a stirrer in the hopper. and variable speed mechanism in conjunction with the sluice operating mechanism for transmitting motion to the stirrer, substantially as f described.

8. In automatic weighing machines of the type specified, the combination comprising a hopper, a weigh beam, a weigh pan on the beam, a hinged discharge door beneath the pan, means for locking the door in the closed position, a horizontally movable main sluice, a horizontally movable dribble sluice carried on the main sluice and movable by the same in one opening direction, a spring for closing the dribble sluice, a two part vertical shaft one part of which is rotated continuously, an automatic clutch for connecting the parts, an arm on the upper end of the other part for imparting opening and closing movements to the main sluice, a catch for engaging the dribble sluice in the open position, an electromagnet under the control of the weigh beam for releasing the catch, and lever mechanism actuated by the dribble sluice for controlling the clutch and the discharge door locking mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES FREDERICK GARRATT. 

